The death toll from wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui has topped 60.

The wildfires that broke out on the island on Tuesday have spread rapidly due to strong winds from a passing hurricane. The number of confirmed deaths had reached 67 as of Friday, local time.

US television network CNN says Maui's wildfires are the country's second deadliest in the past 100 years after California's fire in 2018, which killed 85 people.

Access to the devastated town of Lahaina on the western side of Maui was restricted, but local authorities on Friday allowed residents to temporarily return to their homes.

A long line of traffic was forming on the road leading to the town.

Authorities in the state of Hawaii told NHK that warning sirens had not been activated to alert residents when the fires began.

No details have been revealed, but the failed alerts may have played a part in the resulting extensive damage and loss of life.